Albright-Deering Lectures

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary will present the annual Albright-Deering Lectures in United Methodist Studies Thurs., April 29 at 2:00 and 3:30 p.m. Heather Murray Elkins, professor of worship, preaching, and the arts at Drew Theological School, Drew University, Madison, N.J. will present “Altar-ing the World: Sacramental Work and Worship. Lecture topics include “Thirst-making Water: Preaching in the Font” and “Bread-making Word: Presiding Under the Table”.

Elkins is a graduate of Prescott College (B.A.), the University of Arizona (M.A.), Duke University (M.Div.), and Drew University (Ph.D.). In addition to numerous articles in academic journals and church publications, she is the author of The Holy Stuff of Life (2006) and Worshiping Women: Re-forming God’s People for Praise (1994) and contributing editor of Wising Up: Ritual Resources for Women of Faith (2006) and Pulpit, Table, and Song (1995). Many of Elkins’ essays, poems, and sermons are available in denominational publications, such as Lectionary Homiletics, Weavings, and Storyteller’s Companion to the Bible. She is an ordained elder in the West Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and has served as a pastor, a truck-stop chaplain, university minister, and an academic dean.

The Albright-Deering Lectures in Methodist Studies were established in 1999 through individual contributions and a generous gift from Joseph and Gail Deering of Dayton, Ohio, to celebrate Joseph’s career accomplishments and to honor their former pastor, the Rev. Dr. H. Pat Albright. The lectureship is intended to bring outstanding scholars in the Wesleyan tradition to Pittsburgh Theological Seminary’s campus.

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is a graduate professional institution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A). Founded in 1794, the Seminary is located in Pittsburgh, Pa. and approximately 320 students are enrolled yearly in the degree programs. The Seminary prepares leaders who proclaim with great joy God’s message of good news in both word and deed. PTS is rooted in the Reformed history of faithfulness to Scripture and commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.